Americade
Jun 1st, 2009 through Jun 6th, 2009
Americade is advertised as the largest touring motorcycle rally in the world. Based on Lake George, and the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, there is good reason to attract approximately 50,000 registered motorcycle riders, intent on riding the winding roads and viewing the scenery of upstate New York. While Americade is a much quieter event than most motorcycle rallies, the motorcyclists will still find much to do and see while attending.
Started in May, 1983 by a motorcyclist named Bill Dutcher, Americade was initially called Aspencade East, after another touring motorcycle rally in New Mexico. The initial event drew an estimated 2000 attendence, and it has grown from there. Three years later, the name was changed to the current Americade, to better describe what had quickly become the largest touring motorcycle rally.
The organizers, as well as the local populace and police, want to keep Americade as quiet as possible. The police have even been known to set up random road blocks specifically to verify the motorcycles attending have legal exhaust systems. This attitude prompted at least one unsuccessful attempt at boycotting Americade. Don't let this affect your decision to go, as those who attend will have a great time, but if you decide to go, take the advice of Americade organizers, and leave those loud pipes at home.
Typical Events at Americade
Americade is a touring motorcycle rally, so it obviously features many tours in the upstate New York area. These tours are broken down to four levels, Self-guided, Unguided, Guided, and Premium Guided. See the website below for more information on what is included in each of the levels. Additional activities include:
- Demo rides on new motorcycles sponsored by most of the major motorcycle companies
- Rodeo
- Boat cruises, including meals
- Motorcycle drill teams
- Poker Run and BBQ
- Live music
- Vendors - catering to the touring motorcyclist
- Manufacturer displays
Americade Official Website (for further information)
- Americade www.tourexpo.com/data/
Motels and Camping Near Americade
Motorcycle related laws to know while attending Americade
One of the common complaints when returning from a major motorcycle rally is about the law being rampant, and giving tickets out for every minor infraction. While we cannot stop all tickets from being given, some of those tickets are due to you, the attendee, not being aware of some of the standard laws in the state. Below are some of the most common laws for New York. Be aware, though, that many rally locations have recently passed local ordinances that may be more strict than the state law. For example, a new noise ordinance was passed in Myrtle Beach just in time for the 2005 Fall Rally. I make every effort to keep this information up to date, but you may want to research them more just prior to going to an event, just in case they have changed.
| Helmet Usage | Required by law-reflectorization required |
| Eye Protection | Required by law |
| Daylight headlights | Required by law-modulating headlight permitted |
| Passenger Seat | Required if carrying a passenger |
| Passenger footrests | Required if carrying a passenger |
| Mirrors | Required |
| Turn Signals | Required |
| Mufflers | Muffler required; no straight pipes; no removal of baffles; no modification of exhaust system that increases noise beyond exhaust system originally installed |
| Max Noise Level | Yes |
| Handlebar Height | Maximum of 15" above seat |
| Riding two abreast | Yes |